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FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST #12 - - Watch & Learn

The sky looks BLOOD red. Hint hint.

Which animator in the Bones staff just loves to draw Gatling guns? It feels
if there’s ever an available opportunity for something to be transmutated into
a six-barrel MG, that opportunity is taken - - even though it would seem
to contradict the rules of alchemy that get hammered into our heads at the beginning
of each episode. Yeah, there might be enough available matter to turn into
whatever metal befits the weapon; but that’s not taking into account all the
varied moving parts, chemicals and bountiful ammo needed to sustain such a furious rate
out of fired projectiles.

Again, I’m not really seeking out the opportunity to split hairs about
some silly suspension-of-disbelief details here, but the guns might as well as
be ACME-brand mallets being pulled out of these alchemists' pockets.
For a franchise that otherwise takes great lengths to assure its own internal
consistency, these gags really do stick out as additions put in by people who
don’t quite “get” the property their handling. (Yes, it’s another
comparison point for BROTHERHOOD).

Past that, this was another shrug-inducing episode. It’s a little
interesting to see another angle offered on how Philosophers’ Stones are
created. I always thought that was one of the more fascinating parts of the FMA
world. A magical item that not only offers an alternative for villains who don’t
have alchemical skills, but also wraps the quandary of equivalent exchange
into a sort-of “blood debt” that spookily mirrors Ed and Al’s original
transgression.

Again, this does offer more time to put a sympathetic face on
the victims, but it’s also tied up in a rather limp conclusion to another extraneous addition to the larger story. It also feels like we’re missing some important
story beat where the faux Edward Elric suddenly went from being a callous junior
con-man to a sympathetic, misunderstand young man who just wants to cooperate
with the good guys.

Well, at least Lust is finally showing up. Maybe this means we’ll
finally see this meandering wagon put back on the right track?

Watch this episode, "Earth of Gravel, Part 2" here and decide for yourself,
then read my comments on the previous episode here.

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number
of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - -tompinchuk.com- - and follow his Twitter:@tompinchuk